Dallas police officers and firefighters have reached a preliminary agreement with city officials on pay raises over the next three years — including a 10 percent raise this fiscal year for most first responders.

The police and fire associations have been in negotiations with City Manager A.C. Gonzalez and other city leaders for months on a salary contract. The Dallas City Council approved a budget in September that allowed for pay raises but didn't specify details.

The agreement, which still needs to be voted on by association members and then council members, includes a 10 percent raise for most officers and firefighters this fiscal year, which began in October. They will receive 5 percent the next year and 10 percent the following year.

Under their current salary agreement, most first responders get a 5 percent raise every year up to a capped amount. Those step increases are based on rank and years of service.

The new agreement essentially offers a double-step increase this year, a regular step increase next year and another double-step increase the third year. That will equal 25 percent over three years for most officers.

The starting salary for firefighters and police officers will also increase at least 15 percent over three years.

"I'm happy that we are moving forward and giving these younger officers some money," said Frederick Frazier, interim president of the Dallas Police Association, the largest police group in the city.

The police and fire associations criticized city leaders during early salary negotiations and budget discussions for not doling out those step raises to all first responders, regardless of rank.

The groups wanted even those at higher ranks who wouldn't be eligible under the complex pay step system to receive raises. Under the new agreement, those higher ranks will receive 2 percent raises for each of the next three years.

"We believe the agreement is going to be beneficial for all of our members," said Jim McDade, president of the Dallas Firefighters Association.

The associations argued that those officers missed several years of raises due to pay freezes during the recession, and the associations say many experienced firefighters and police officers are leaving Dallas in record numbers to work for other cities with higher pay.

Dallas is among the lowest in starting pay for large city police officers in the state, at $46,870. The new pay agreement would increase starting pay for rookie cops and firefighters.

"We've really been pushing to get this agreement to attempt to stop that exodus of people," McDade said. "At least we'll be competitive with the suburbs instead of being drastically behind."

Last fiscal year, which ended in September, 294 officers left the Dallas Police Department. The department hired 142 officers during the same period.

To offset the losses, retired Police Chief David Brown had proposed hiring 549 officers in a single year, well above the 200 the department typically hires in a year. His proposal was set aside when city staff determined the goal was probably unrealistically high.

The City Council approved a 2016-17 budget that includes money to hire 449 officers, an effort meant to restore the department to more than 3,500 officers. The last hiring spree in 2008 brought in 376 officers.

The police associations have warned that if officers keep leaving, the department could dip below 3,000 next year. It is currently at 3,272 officers.

But the city faces other high public safety costs to try to save the troubled police and fire pension fund. And it also must grapple with decades-old police and fire pay lawsuits. Mayor Mike Rawlings has said losing those suits could drive the city into bankruptcy.

Police officials have said that salary increases could help them recruit more officers to the rookie academy and through a lateral transfer program, which would bring experienced officers from other departments into the city.

But it comes with caveats. The city would have to pay $1.9 million in matching funds, and the department would have to maintain a head count of at least 3,407 for four years.

During a budget, finance and audit committee meeting Monday, some City Council members expressed concern about accepting the grant and being on the hook for the pay if the department can't maintain the head count.

Council member Philip Kingston said he didn't like the "idea of hiring long-term employees with short-term funds."

But police officials said they're already working to hire at least 300 officers in the next year, something the council has supported. The committee members agreed to accept the grant and decide within the next three years whether they can implement it.

Assistant Police Chief Tammie Hughes said the department is aggressively recruiting and the salary increases will "show Dallas in a different light to attract officers."